Handle lock for pneumatic tools



v J. R. L. SANTOS HANDLE LOOK FOR PNEUMATIC TOOLS Filed Jung 4, 1920 I mara i atente d Apr. 28,. 1925. i

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CORPOEdTION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

HANDLE LOCK FOB, PNEUTEATIO TOGLSL Application filed June 4, 1920. Serial No. 388,518.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, Jorm R. L. SANTOS, a citizen of the United States, l'llllll'IlOTO, in the State of hilaryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Handle Locks for Pneumatic Tools,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic tools and has particular reference to an improved locking device to lock the handle on the barrel of the tool and prevent the two from becoming unscrewed because ofthe jar to which the tool is subjected in operation. a

The object of the invention is not only to provided improved means for preventing the handle from jarring loose on the barrel, but

i to provide an improved means that constantly tends to rotate on the barrel, while engagingthe handle, and apply a force in a direction that would cause the barrel and handle to becomelnore securely engaged by rotating the parts in a direction to tighten, instead of loosen them. i

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein,

Fig. 1. shows a tool in perspective,the improved locking devices being separated for the purpose of illustration and the rotatable coupling-ring being broken away to show its cross-sectional shape, with the spring retaining clip removed.

Fig. 2. illustrates the detached spring-clip in perspective.

Fig. 3. shows a cross-sectional detail through the barrel and the improved locking device engaging the same with the handle, and 1 Fig. 1. illustrates a fragmentary sectional detail through a portion of the handle, the barrel and the improved locking device, as

the same would appear if viewed on the line {t& of Fig. 3.

In the. d awlng the numeral 5, designates the barrel or cylinder of thetool, while the handle is designated 7. This handle hasa circular portion 8 whose lower edge 1s provided with a circular series of ratchet-teeth 9 which face downwardly and are radially disposed around the barrel. The circular portion 8 of the handle is provided with the usual internally-threaded socket into which the threaded portion 6, Fig. at of the barrel screws.

residing at The barrel is provided with a recess 11 forming a locking wall 12 that extends longitudinally of the barrel. This recess is positioned in the barrel adjacent the radial ratchet teeth 9. r

A split spring ring 13, encircles the barrel and this ring has an inturned hook 14, at one end and an out-turned hook 15, at the opposite end thereof. The tendency of this spring-ringis to contract about the circumference of the barrel.

The in-turned hook 1d, of this ring snaps into the recess 11, and hooks against the locking wall 12, of said recess, whereby to lock the ring against rotation about the barrel.

Another member of my improved locking device comprises a continuous annular ring 16.

This ring has an interior circumference of two distinct diameters in that its lower portion 17, is of a diameter to closely fit the circumference of tl'lebarrel while its upper portion 18, is outwardly off-set so as to leave an annular spaceor channel 19, between the exterior wall of the barrel. and the interior wall of the upper ring-portion 18.

The annular space or channel 19, between the barrel and ring is of suflicient width to freely receive the split ring 13.

At the upper edge of the annular ring there is provided a series of ratchet teeth 20, which latter are formed to fit and engage the teeth 9, on the lower edge of the. handle portion 8. r

,It is therefore to be understood that the confronting edges of the handle and the annular ring are provided with coacting ratchet teetl This feature in itself however is not novel with me but the flared and outwardly-spaced annular ring with the teeth on the upper edge of the, flared portion I believe to be novel.

I also provide the flared portion of the.

split-spring ring 13, whereby the springring may have one end engaged with the barrel and its other end engaged with the rotatable ring.

In Fig. 1. ot the drawing the split ring is shown with the hook 14., engaged in the barrel recess 11 from which point said ring encircles the barrel.

The ring 16, which is shown in Fig. l as slipped down upon the barrel of the tool, is designed to be moved upwardly thereon to bring the parts into their proper relation, and when so moved its outwardly-flared upper portion 18, will project over and encircle the split ring,-thereby confinin said split ring in the annular space or channel 19. When moving the annular ring 16 up, the notch 21, in its upper edge is brought into register with the out-turned hook 15, ot the split ring so as to engage the latter with the annular ring.

This movement of the annular ring 16, will bring the ratchet-teeth 20, into engagement with the corresponding teeth 9 on the handle.

"3y then rotating the annular ring 16, in the direction permitted by the ratchet-teeth, or to the right as viewed in Fig. 1, the ringnotch 21, because of its engagement with out-turned hook 15, of the split ring 13, will expand the latter and place the same under greater tension, during which movement the teeth will simply ride past each other and finally engage and look when the split ring has been expanded to the limit. T18 split ring having been expanded new has a greater tendency to contract and this force is directly applied to the rotatable ring 16, because the out-turned hook 15, is engaged in the notch 21 of said ring. As the annular rotatable ring 16, is engaged through the teeth 20, and 9 wit-h the handle, all force set or stored up in the split ring is applied which tends to rotate the handle in one direction and the barrel in the reverse direction, and this force is therefore so exerted upon the two parts as to screw them together instead ot allowing them to unscrew.

The split ring and annular rotatable ring constantly operate to tighten the handle and barrel. v

To prevent accidental displacement of the annular ring 16 or its separation or disengagen'ient from the handle, there is provided a splitspring clip 22 having inturned edge flanges 23 and 2 1. respectively, which clip is snapped around the tool with its flange engaging the annular groove 10, in the handle and its other flange 24-, engaging a circuniterential shoulder 25, on the outer side of the annular ring 16, whereby to lock the latter ring with its teeth enga ing the handleeetl'i.

Attention is directed to the fact that the sectional view of Fig. 8. does not pretend to be an accurate cross-section through the barrel 5, in that certain longitudinal ducts and ports usually employed in the barrel construction have been omitted, because they have no bearing on the present invention.

Having described my invention, 1 claim,

1. In a pneui'natic tool, the con'rbination with a barrel; a handle having threaded engagement with the barrel, said handle lilacwise having a series of ratchet teeth upon its lower end; a locking ring encircling the barrel and likewise having ratchet teeth upon one rare, adapted to coact with the ratchet teeth upon the handle; and a split spring ring, one end engaging a recess formed in the barrel and the other engaging the locking ring atoresaid, whereby when the ring is rotated with reference to the handle, it will tend to spread the spring ring and act to screw the handle upon the barrel, when the ratchet teeth on the locking ring are meshed with the ratchet teeth on the handle preventing retrograde movement of the locking ring with reference to the handle.

In a pneumatic tool the combination with a barrel, of a handle having threaded engagement with the barrel, a continuous ring about the barrel and tree to move in a cireumterential direct-ion about the barrel said ring has-King means to engage the handle and elastic means attached to the barrel and also connected to tae ring to exert a constant rotating tendency on the ring in a direction to screw the handle and barrel together.

3. In a pneumatic tool the combination with a barrel, of a handle having threaded engagement with the barrel and said handle being provided with ratchet-teeth; a rotatable ring encircling the barrel and having teeth to engage the teeth on the handle, and means for exerting a constant force on the rotatable ring which force tends to turn the ring in a direction to screw the handle on the barrel.

4:. In a. pneumatic tool the combination with a barrel, of ahandle having threaded engagement with the barrel, a continuous ring about the barrel and tree to move in a circumferential direction about the barrel said ring having means to engage the handle and a split spring-ring encircling the barrel with one end attached to the latter and its other end attached to the continuous ring.

said split ring by its tendency to contract exerting a force that tends to screw the handle and barrel together.

In a pneumatic tool the combination with a barrel, of a handle having threaded engagement with the barrel, a continuous ring about the barrel and having a notch therein said ring being rotatable on the barrel but engaged with the handle and a split spring-ring having one end attached to the barrel and its other end engaging said lit) in the barrel and the other engaging the locking ring aforesaid, whereby when the 1 ring is rotated with reference to the handle, it will tend to spread the spring ring and act to screw the handle upon the barrel, the ratchet teeth preventing retrograde movement of the locking ring with reference to 2 the handle; and a split spring clip having inturned flanges, said flanges engaging the handle and the locking ring respectively.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN R. L. SANTOS. 

